TASMANIA has always punched well above its weight when it comes to providing national and international sporting stars, but has there ever been a more talented group coming through the ranks?

The Mercury sports department sat down and put together a top 10 of emerging athletes who could take their respective fields by storm in the next few years.

Jacob Birtwhistle (triathlon)

The former Launceston schoolboy star won the gold medal in the junior men’s division at the ITU World Duathlon Championships in Spain earlier this month, adding it to his victory at the Triathlon Oceania Cup at Mooloolaba in March and his Australian Youth Olympic title and OTU Oceania Championship.

Tasmania’s highest draft pick in nearly a decade, Kolodjashnij is destined for a long and successful AFL career.

The Gold Coast Suns snapped up the classy half back from Launceston with pick five in last year’s draft and the defender has not missed a beat in his debut campaign.

Jacob Vincent (swimming)

When you can better a time of triple Olympic gold medallist Grant Hackett at the same age, people start noticing.

In February he posted the third-fastest 1500m time ever by a 14-year-old Australian at the Tasmanian swimming championships, stopping the clock at 15min 51sec – better than Hackett (16.07) at the same age back in 1995.

Javelin thrower Hamish Peacock.Source: News Limited

Swimmer Jacob Vincent.Source: News Corp Australia

Hamish Peacock (javelin)

The hulking Hobart-based track and field star has already represented Australia – at last year’s World Championships in Moscow – and is considered a good chance of a Commonwealth Games medal.

A nine-time Tasmanian champion and five-time Australian junior champion, Peacock will head to Glasgow having produced the second best throw of his career (80.5m) at the national selection trials two months ago.

Kate Eckhardt (canoe slalom)

A promising junior on the Tasmanian scene, the 16-year-old showcased her talents on the world stage in April when she won silver in the Junior K1 World Canoe Slalom Championships at Penrith. Only Czech reigning world champion Ameli Hilgertova posted a quicker time going into the semi-finals but after heading into the final in seventh position, Kate held her nerve when it mattered most.

Josh Burdon.Source: News Corp Australia

Kate Eckhardt.Source: Supplied

Josh Burdon (motorsport)

Marcos Ambrose might be Tasmania’s best export on four wheels but Burdon is rapidly rising in the motorsport world.

The Hobart-born driver narrowly missed out on winning the European NASCAR title last year, but his runner-up finish saw him land a test session with Exotics Racing in Las Vegas.

Georgia Baker (cycling)

Amy Cure came through the junior system to become a world champion earlier this year and Baker, Macey Stewart and Lauren Perry are all following in her footsteps.

Two years ago Baker defended her junior women’s team pursuit crown at the UCI Junior Track World Championships (smashing the world record in the process) and capturing the scratch race title.

Harry Bourchier.Source: News Limited

Georgia Baker.Source: News Limited

Harry Bourchier (tennis)

Not since Richard Fromberg retired in 2005 has there been such excitement surrounding a Tasmanian tennis player.

The 18-year-old is more than holding his own on the junior circuit, highlighted by an epic third-round encounter at the boys’ Australian Open in January where he pushed French junior champion and world No.1 ranked junior, Russian Andrey Rublev to 14-12 in the third set.

Rower Georgia Nesbitt.Source: News Limited

Georgia Nesbitt (rowing)

The Huon club member represented Australia at both the senior and under-23 world championships last year, and has again been picked in the lightweight double for this year’s U23 event in Italy.

Nesbitt is the national under-23 singles champion, and was part of the Tasmanian lightweight quad which won the Victoria Cup in March.

Tasmanian Roar cricketer Katelyn Fryett.Source: News Limited

Katelyn Fryett (cricket)

The Tasmanian Roar may have struggled in its first few years in the WCNL competition but there is no doubt their inclusion into the national competition is blazing a trail for talented female cricketers.

Leading the charge is Fryett, a medium-fast bowler who last month secured a contract for Australia’s development squad, the Shooting Stars.